Fast Friends

An Olympian and his dog take on all comers

Thursday, August 26, 2010, 12:00 am

WHEN IAN DOBSON AND HIS DOG,Chap, registered for the Bark in the Park 5-K, a race for humans and canines in Eugene, Oregon, on May 16, he figured the win was a gimme. Dobson represented the United States in the 5000 meters at the 2008 Olympics, and when he and his wife, Julia Lucas, adopted Chap, an Australian cattle dog, it was partly for the breed’s running ability. “But we got out there and there was this guy with a German shepherd running ahead, and we were 4:50 at the mile,” Dobson says.

That’s no gimme. Dobson and Lucas run professionally for the Oregon Track Club Elite. They adopted Chap through the Pet Adoption Network this past April, a month after Kep, their first dog, had been killed by a car. “That was probably the saddest thing that has happened to us,” Dobson says.

Dobson runs with Chap a few days a week, mostly on easy runs but sometimes for tempo workouts. Half their runs are on-leash and the rest, when they’re away from cars, are off. “We’re in an obedience class, and we use the same techniques for walking on a leash as for running,” he says. Chap and Lucas aren’t there yet. “Chap didn’t do herself any favors—she tripped Julia a couple times,” Dobson says. “Julia’s become a little gun-shy about it. But we run with Chap together a lot.”

At Bark in the Park, Dobson and Chap found an advantage in the whims of mixed-species racing. “The shepherd had to make a pit stop. That was a break for us.” The pair saw their opportunity, rallied, and squeaked out a narrow victory in 15:45. “It really helped her bond with me,” Dobson says.